Music-roll cleaner for player pianos



F'sb. 12, 19290 E. J, ESMAEL.

MUSIC ROLL CLEANER FOR PLAYER PIANOS Filed Dec. 1925 GHQ: u

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELISHA JOHN ESMAIL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE OPERATORS PIANO COMPANY, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MUSIC-ROLL CLEANER FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

Application filed December 3, 1925.

This invention relates to im rovements in pneumatically operated musical instruments, and particularly to pneumatically operated. pianos, now commonly called player-pianos.

Generally stated, the primary object contemplated by the present invention is to provide an attachment for such instruments, and particularly the player-piano, which will re move from the music roll or other control means, all dust, dirt or other foreign matter, before said roll reaches a point in its travel. 'hrough the instrument where the foreign matter can gain access to the in terior working parts of the ins ment. As is well understood the player-piano is us lly provider with what is termed a tracks board or bar having a series oi orifices therein over which the perforated music roll passes to actuate, by vacuum or suction, proper mechanisms for producing the desired tones and the object of the invention, more specifically expressed, consists in providing an attachment which will remove from the surface of said music roll next the tracker bar all foreign matter before said roll passes over the orifices in the bar.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel details of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts, all will he hereinafter more fully described and the novel features thereof purticularl pointed one in the app ided claim.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating .more or less diagrammatically the tracker bar and the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the tracker bar and attachment, the connections for producing the vacuum for cleaning the music roll and the receptacle for collecting the foreign matter being;- omitted in this view.

W J. t a. It} 'on the line Si -J1:

liig. is a sectional view of the trap or collector for particles of foreign matter removed from the musi roll. I

No particular form of tracker bar is required in the present invention and for this reason the tracker bar 10 is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying; drawings. Extending longitudinally of this tracker bar is a series of orifices 11, usually eighty-eight in number, over which the Serial No. 72,970.

perforated music roll is adapted to travel, the several orifices remaining sealed until a perforated portion of the music roll moves into registry with one or more of them whereupon the desired tones will be produced by pneumatically operated mechanisms in the usual way and in a manner well understood in the art. These mechanisms for producing the tones form no part of the invention and for this reason it is not deemed necessary to illustrate them. The music roll 12 is shown extending from roller 13 over the tracker bar to a take-up roller 14 and at the rear of the tracker bar there is a series of conduits 15 corresponding in number to the orifices in the tracker bar and communicating with said orifices for connection to the suction producing; devices in the well known manner.

A is present at all times in each of the orifices 11, and, for this reason, it there should be any dust or any other foreign matter on the surface of the music roll passing ever the tracker bar, such foreign matter will, of course, be drawn into said orifices and ultimately into the pneumatics, the primaries, chests, and pumps, and into the bleat holes of the pneumatics and primaries, ultimately clogging up such elements causing; them to become slug and possibly preventing them operatingor functioning properly. In view of this the present invention contemplates the prcmsion of means, preferably pneumatically operated, for removing from the surface of the music roll which contacts with the tracker bar 10 all particles of dust and foreign matter before said roll passes over the tracker bar. This may be accomplished by providin a vacuum chamber having an entrance slot located adjacent to but in advance of the orifices 11 in the tracker bar. Such chamber mi ghtbe formed in various ways but in the prciprred embodiment, which is illustrated in the presentinstance there is a hollow easing l6 located immediately to one side of the tracker bar 10 in ch position that the M11151: roll will contact with it in passing; over the same and over the bar. Formed in the face of said casing 16, with which the roll contacts, is a slot 17 extending parallel with and to or beyond the ends of the series of orifices 11 and for producing a vacuum in said casing the latter is provided in one of its walls with a conduit 18 to which there may be connected a vacuum tube 19 leading to suction producing apparatus which may be the same apparatus for producing the suction or vacnuin in the orifices 11. W'ith this construction it Will be apparent that any foreign matter adhering to the music roil Will be removed from the surface of the iatter as it approaches the orifices in the tracker bar.

To prevent such foreign matter reaching the suction producing apparatus, asuitable trap or separator may be interposed. in tube 19 leading to such apparatus. In the present instance this trap is shown as consisting; of a base ZOhaVing' achaniber 21 formed therein in Which there is: a sieve or other separa member 22, the section pipe 19 extend from conduit 18 of casing" 16 enteringcham-' bar 21 at one side of said separating member 22 and the section of pipe if) cxtendinc from base to the suction devices communicating with said chamber 21 on the opposite side of the separating member 22. The top of the chamber 21 may be closed by a cover 28 renioyably held thereon by a clamping screw 2a extending through ayoke 25 secured on said base 20.

No particular means of attaching the easing'lfi to tracker bar 10 are necessary, any desirable form. of clips 26 suficing for this purpose.

What I claim is: v

in pneumaticaily operated musical instruments embodying a tracker bar l'iavii'igg a series of orifices over which a music sheet is adapted to travel, a casing supported by said tracker bar and. provided with a vacuum chamber, and having a slot extending; longitudinally thereof the length of the orifices in the trackcrhar. said casing; located in advance of the tracker ha and ver which the music sheet passes before passing over the tracker bar.

ELISHA JOE-In ESMAIL 

